Between politically and ideologically distinct regions, the Tumen River (두만강, Doomangang) is a natural border on the northern edge of the Korean Peninsula. The river, which separates China, North Korea, and Russia, carries a deep emotional connection as it is immortalised in many Korean songs and historical narratives. The river’s role as a crossing point for North Korean defectors risking their lives to seek freedom, emphasises its tragic significance.

Hyung-Geun Park (KR) retraced the defection routes of these refugees, starting in Seoul and passing through various Chinese cities before reaching the basin of the Tumen River. This journey is documented through photographs of views and places associated with the defectors’ stories. Park’s constructed images are devoid of any significant human presence and combine documentary truth with symbolic references.

The Tumen River Project begins from two perspectives: from the Unification Observatory in South Korea, which offers a seemingly peaceful but artificial view of North Korea, and from the Chinese border, where the harsh realities of the North Korean regime become more apparent. These contrasting views highlight the dichotomy between the idealised image of North Korea and its harsh reality.

The Tumen River Project is part of the series Layers of Memories, together with Jejudo. Both titles are co-published with Vostok Press.